[bookieboo]

Hi Everyone. I live in Jax FL and I saw someone post on another site that during their classes they had to put down 10 babysitters and they would have to go thru a background check etc. I only let my family watch my bio child and that would be the same for my fosters and I rarely have anyone watch my child. Anyways I dont have 10 people who I would let watch my kids and then to make these people go thru all the background etc. Is this true for florida as well?
Thanks
Becca

[hkolln]

We were not required to put down 10 babysitters...and we live in JAX also. You can use as many people as you wish...be it 1 or more.

I used my mother only because she is the only one I trust. She had to go down and get fingerprinted for a background check and then she was considered "my backup" however being a backup meant she had to watch the kids in our home only. We were not able to take them to her home (unless it was cleared as a foster home).

[Sam-N-Tony]

I think a back up babysitter is required (just one) if you are single. If you are a married couple a back up babysitter is not required because you depend on each other.

Same thing as with Helen. Babysitters are only allowed to babysit at your house.

[makarios79]

Originally Posted by bookieboo

Hi Everyone. I live in Jax FL and I saw someone post on another site that during their classes they had to put down 10 babysitters and they would have to go thru a background check etc. I only let my family watch my bio child and that would be the same for my fosters and I rarely have anyone watch my child. Anyways I dont have 10 people who I would let watch my kids and then to make these people go thru all the background etc. Is this true for florida as well?
Thanks
Becca

I am single in Jax and I was only required to have one person listed as a backup caregiver/babysitter when I started and she was a foster parent already, therefore she was already fingerprinted. (although my sister later got fingerprinted)...I went through the process in Dec 06 - Jan 07.

If they are requiring 10 now (which is ridiculous) I would personally start going to the Foster parent association meetings and befriend and get to know some of the other foster parents and ask them to be back up babysitters, even if you never plan to use them. They are already fingerprinted...and it also would be good if you ever planned to use respite or had an emergency, you already have these people available to help you.

just my 2 cents...

EDITED TO ADD: and if you get foster parents to be your back up babysitters/ respite provider they can babysit in their own home, not just yours....and kids can also spend the night there if necessary..just a thought...